Indicator for locks.



- A. ARENS & E. L. THIGH.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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A. ARENS & E. L. THIGH.

INDICATOR FOR LOGKS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 22, 1909.

942,806., Patented m. 7, 1909.

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AUGUST ARENS AND ERNEST L. TEICE-I, OF KEV] BRITAIIZI', CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNQRS TO P. &, F. CORBIN', 0F N'EVI" BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NEOTICUT.

INDICATOR FOB LOCKS.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that we, AUeUs'r ARENS and ERNEsT L. TEIOH, citizens of the United States, residing at New Britain, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators for nooks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to an improved indicating device to be used in connection with a lock.

The function of the ordinary indicating device is to warn an outsider that the door to which the indicator is applied is locked.

This invention is particularly useful in connection with key-operated locks of the socalled hotel door type, or corridor door type, and the construction is such that, not only is an outsider advised by the indicator that the door is locked, but it is possible for the occupant of a room to employ said indicator to announce that the room is occupied, thus preventing intrusion even though the door be not locked. Such devices are frequently employed on hotel doors or apartment doors located on corridors. Since corridors are frequently dark, it is very desirable to have an indicator which appeals to the sense of feeling rather than to the sense of seeing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an edge view of a portion of adoor showing the lock, the knob shanks, indicator and a portion of a key in place. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, looking from left to right. Fig. 3 is a relatively enlarged view of the indicating device and its immediately associated parts, said View being partly in section, and said indicator being shown in one of its indicating positions. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the indicator in a different position. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing the key in a different position. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 5, in the position in which they appear therein. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a detached detail.

1 represents a portion of a door. 2 represents an escutcheon plate at the outer side thereof.

3 represents the inner escutcheon plate. The design of the escutcheon plates is immaterial.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 22, 1909.

Patented Dee. t, 1929.,

Serial No. 49?,630.

4- is a key by Which the lock may be operated, and by which the indicator may be operated when the key is inserted at the inner side of the door and turned.

55 represent two dead-bolts such as commonly employed in the well known hotel door locks, so-called. The bolt 5 is designed to be projected and retracted by the key 4 when the latter is inserted in the lock from the inner side of the door. The bolt 5 is projected by the key when it is inserted in the keyhole at the outer side of the lock, said keyholes being at different elevations.

6 is what is termed a coupling head.

7 is the indicator proper, the same in this instance being in the form of a button or finger piece projecting through the face plate 2. The indicator 7 is arranged to be extended and retracted. iVhen extended,- it may mean that the dead-bolt 5 is extended, or, that the room to which the indicator belongs is occupied, and intrusion is not desired. When the indicator is retracted, it indicates that the door is not locked from the inside. The meaning of the indicator in its two positions may, of course, be reversed.

8 is a tubular housing or guide which opcrates as a support for the indicator, said housing being arranged at the rear of the plate 2. The indicator 7 is provided with an enlarged head 9 at its rear, the same being of suitable shape and size to slide within the housing 8. The housing 8 has a longitudinal slot 8 in its side, arranged to receive a pin 10 which operates as a key or spline to prevent said indicator from being turned within the housing as it is being extended 0 retracted.

11 is a spring preferably provided to force the indicator rearwardly; that is, to retract the same so that the outer end of the indicator will stand practically flush with the outer surface of the plate 2.

The coupling means includes a hub 12 mounted to turn in the rear open end of the housing, said hub being shouldered so as to be retained therein when the housing 8 is secured to the plate 2. The hub 12 has two cam projections 1313, each of which stands in a correspondingly shaped recess at the rear end of the indicator 7 when the indicator is retracted. To project the indicator, the hub 12 is partially rotated, for example,

one-quarter of a turn. This partial turn will cause the indicator 7 to be extended from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 5, in which position the top of the cam projections 1813 will rest upon the rearmost end of the head 9 of the indicator, said rearmost end being preferably flattened as at 15 to avoid any tendency on the part of the spring 11 to restore the parts to their original position shown in Fig. This mechanism constitutes the preferable means employed for transforming the reta ry movement of the key into a longitudinal movement of the finger piece. The hub 12 of the coupling means has a central passage preferably of rectangular cross-section arranged to receive the end of a spindle 6 at the forward side of the coupling head 6.

This spindle 6 is preferably of sufficient length so that it may be moved to and fro in the hub 12. To prevent the spindle 6 from being accidentally disengaged fr m the hub 12, the inner end may be slightly headed, as indicated in the sectional. View, Fig. 7.

6 a spring between the hub 12 and the head of the coupling 6 operating to cause these parts to normally assume the position shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7.

The coupling head 6 has a center bore 6 at its rear end to receive the forward end of the shank of the key and said coupling is likewise provided at its rear end with a side extension 6 having the two independent shoulders 6 6.

Having thus far described the various parts of our improved indicating device in its preferred form, we will now proceed to describe the operation. hen the bolt 5 (which, it will be recalled, is operated by a key from the inner side of the door only) is retracted, the parts (aside from the key) will assume the position indicated in Figs. 8 and at. In this position the indicator 7 is retracted, indicating that the door is not. locked from the inside. Reference to Fig. 4 will show that the side extension 6 normally stands somewhat obliquely relatively to the plane of the keyhole so as to afford room for admitting the key. When a key at is inserted. in the keyhole, it first assumes the position indicated in the Figs. 3 and t. Turning said key clockwise (in the particular illustration) operates to project the bolt 5. When the key 1 reaches the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4c, and is about to project the bolt, it sii'nultaneously engages the shoulder 6 of the side extension 6 of the coupling 6 so that continued rotation of the key from the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4t, to the position indicated in solid lines, Fig. 6, will not only project the bolt, but will also impart to the coupling head 6 a partial rotation. approximately one-quarter of a turn. This partial rotation of the coupling 6 rotatesthe hub 12 to a corresponding extent whereby the latter, in the manner previously described, forces the indicator 7 forwardly from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to that indicated in Fig. In the type of hotel door lock that we have in mind, a stop is ordinarily provided to prevent turning the key clockwise beyond the point indicated in solid lines, Fig. 6, with the result that so long as the key stands in this position, the bolt will be projected and the outsider will be warned against entering by the projected indicator 7. If, for any reason, the user desires to unlock the door but still warn an outsider against intrusion, he may swing the key in a coiuiter-clockwise direction, from the position indicated in Fig. 6 to that indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4. This movement will retract the bolt 5, but as will be seen, this range of movement is insufficient (because of the space between the shoulders 6 -6 to reverse the position of the indicator which still continues to stand in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. If the occupant of the room permits the key to stand in the position indicated in dotted lines (Fig. f) after having first looked the door, the indicator 7 will still stand projected to act as a warning to all outsiders that the room is at least occupied and that intrusion is not desired. -Before retiring from the room, the occupant must turn the key fro-m the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. t, to the position indicated in solid lines in said figure. This movement will restore the indicator and its associated parts to the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 4: by reason of the engagement of the key bit with shoulder 6 after which the key l may be removed, the occupant make his exit and lock the door from the outside through the medium of bolt 5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by this invention a new and useful function is attributed to the indicator, namely, a function of guarding against intrusion even though the door be unlocked. This is accomplished in an exceedingly simple and inexpensive manner.

While the coupling head 6 might be rigidly connected with the hub 12, it is preferable that the same be mounted for longitudinal play, since it adapts the device to doors of different thicknesses and simplifies exceedingly the application of the indicator to a door.

e have not shown 'in detail the main lock carrying the bolts 55 it being unnecessary herein since such locks are well understood and no claim is made of novelty as to such locks themselves. All such locks are provided with the usual casings and if desired the rear end of the coupling means may project into one side of the casing op posite the inner keyhole, a suitable bore in said casing being provided to admit the rear end of said coupling.

What we claim is:

1. In an indicator for door locks, an inclicator support having an opening therein, an indicating button mounted therein and movable depthwise thereof in said opening, a spring for normally repressing saidbutton, means for projecting said button comprising a rotatable hub mounted to the rear of said button, a cam connection between said hub and button, means to prevent said but ton from rotating in said support, a key coupling carried by said hub and projecting rearwarclly, whereby said hub may be rotated by a key to move the indicating button in one direction.

2. In an indicator for door locks, an indicator support having an opening therein, an indicating button mounted thereon and movable depthwise thereof in said opening, a spring for normally repressing said button, means for projecting said button comprising a rotatable hub mounted to the rear of said button, a cam connection between said hub and button, means to prevent said button from rotating in said support, a key coupling carried by said hub and projecting rearwardly, whereby said hub may be rotated by a key to move the indicating button in one direction, said coupling being longitudinally movable in said hub.

3. An indicator for a lock comprising a support, an indicating device carried thereby, means for moving said indicating device to and fro including a rotatable hub, means for indirectly connecting said hub with the key for operating the lock, whereby when the key is turned said hub will be turned.

4. An indicator for a key-operated lock, comprising a longitudinally movable finger piece arranged substantially in line with the key for operating said lock and an intermediate mechanical coupling including a hub cooperating with said finger piece for transforming a rotary movement of the key into a longitudinal movement of the said finger piece.

5. In an indicator for locks, a look, a key, a normally retracted movable finger piece mounted on the outer side of the door to which said lock is to be applied and arranged for longitudinal movement in and out, said finger piece being substantially in line with the key-hole in the look, a mechanical coup ling including a hub arranged bet-ween said finger piece and key and constructed to transform a rotary movement of said key into a longitudinal movement of the finger piece, and means independent of the key to return said finger piece to its normal retracted position.

6. In an indicator for looks the combination with a lock, of an indicator support arranged substantially in front of the key-hole in the lock, an indicating device mounted in said support and a transforming device also mounted in said support and arranged to be engaged by a key when inserted in said key-hole, said device being constructed to transform a rotary movement of the key into a longitudinal movement of said indicating device.

7. In an indicator for looks, the combination with lock, of an indicator support arranged substantially in front of the keyhole in the lock, an indicating device mounted in said support and arranged to be forced outwardly by a key rotated in said keyhole, a coupling member between said indicating device and said key including a hub having a cam.

8. I11 an indicator for looks, the combination with a lock, of an indicator support arranged substantially in front of the keyhole in the lock, an indicating device mounted in said support and arranged to be forced outwardly by a key rotated in said keyhole, a longitudinally adjustable coupling member between said indicating device and said key including a hub having a cam.

9. In an indicator for looks, the combination with a lock, of an indicator support arranged substantially in front of the keyhole in the lock, an indicating device mounted in said support and arranged to be forced outwardly by a key rotated in said keyhole, a coupling member between said indicating device and said key including a hub having a cam, and a spring tending to normally press said indicating device inwardly.

10. In a door lock, including a key-oper able bolt, the combination of an indicating device, a support therefor, of a key-controllable coupling in line with the keyhole of the lock, two independent shoulders on said coupling for independent engagement by a key, said shoulders being spaced apart, whereby said key may be rotated a partial revolution independently of the coupling in moving from one shoulder to the other, and means of connection between said coupling and said indicating device whereby when said coupling is rotated, said indicating device will be reciprocated.

11. In a door lock, including a key-operable bolt, the combination of an indicating device, a support therefor, of a key-controllable coupling in line with the keyhole of the lock, the independent shoulders on said coupling for independent engagement by a key, said shoulders being spaced apart, whereby said key may be rotated a partial revolution independently of the coupling in moving from one shoulder to the other, means of connection between said coupling and said indicating device whereby when said coupling is rotated, said indicating device will be reciprocated, the shouldered portion of said coupling being adjustable to and fro relatively to the support.

12. An indicator for a key-operated lock comprising a lock having a bolt, an indicator support, an indicating button carried thereby and movable in and out, akey, and means for operatively connecting said key with said indicating device, whereby said indicating device will be shifted thereby to an indicating position when the bolt is projected, said means having a clearance space whereby when the key is reversed to the bolt-retracting position said indicator will still stand in the indicating position, and means whereby when said key is shifted to the position where it can be removed fronithe lock, said indicator will be repressed to the non-indieating position.

13. An indicator for a key-operated lock comprising a longitudinally movable indicating member, a support therefor, said indicating member being arranged substantially in front of the key when the latter is in position in the lock, means for moving said indicator to one position by the rotation of a key in the look, a coupling device between said means and said key, said coupling device having a side extension arranged to engage the key at one side, and being open at the other side to permit said key to be turned throughout a substantial range before moving said indicator.

AUGUST ARENS. ERNEST L. TEICH.

' \Vitnesses:

WM. V. CoLLINs, G. ERNEST Roor. 

